GREENACRES, Fla. — A family of five escaped their burning mobile home Friday morning in Greenacres after a quick-thinking young girl alerted them to the danger.
The fire ripped through their home in the Colonial Estates Mobile Home Park off Lake Worth Road at about 10:30 a.m.
Children inside the home were awakened when they smelled smoke.
"We were sleeping, me and my little sister," 13-year-old Valerie Morales said.
WATCH BELOW: Girl explains how she helped alert family
Valerie, the oldest of the two children who live at the home, said her 8-year-old sister smelled the smoke.
The two girls opened the bedroom door and saw a thick cloud of smoke billowing toward them from the back of the home.
"I ran to my parents' room," Valerie said, "and I yelled at them to get out because there was fire and smoke."
She called 911 as she, her sister, uncle, parents and pets escaped their burning home.
Greenacres Fire Rescue tells WPTV that the blaze was likely caused by a faulty electrical wire in the back of the mobile home.
After the fire, neighbors came by to comfort the Morales family, who learned their home is now unlivable, and they lost most of their belongings.
"I'm glad everyone's OK," Valerie said. "I got everyone out."
The Red Cross and neighbors are now helping the family.
Below is a statement from the Greenacres Fire Rescue regarding the fire:
"Responding units arrived on scene within minutes and launched an aggressive offensive attack to quickly suppress the fire to the mobile home. A total of five victims were affected, including three adults and two children. The two children were treated on scene for possible smoke inhalation and subsequently released. The Red Cross was contacted to assist the fire victims with food and temporary housing. This incident showcased excellent coordination between Greenacres Fire Rescue and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, who provided mutual aid."
— Brian Fuller, Fire Chief, City of Greenacres Fire Rescue
